Bimal Chatterjee(1912-1994)

Bimal Chandra Chattopadhyay widely known for his acting was also a great musician and a passionate collector of old artifacts, books, and furniture. In his early days, he was involved in politics with his eldest brother, eminent parliamentarian Justice N.C. Chatterjee ( father of our former Lok Sabha speaker, Somnath Chatterjee) and Shyamaprasad Mukherjee. Later he devoted his time to the world of music and became a student of Majid Khan (father of Ustad Karamtulla Khan who was one of the greatest Tabalia during that time). He could also play Violin, Esraj, Flute, Pakhawaj, etc. In the year 1940, he was married to the eldest daughter of Uttarpara Zamindar Mukherjee's family, Reba Debi. In the year 1949, at the age of 35, he started the first Sri Aurobindo Abirbhab Mahaustav in Kolkata. Famous personnel like Kalidas Nag, Radhabinod Pal, Raja Dinendranarayan Ray, N.C. Chatterjee and Shayamaprasad Mukherjee were part of this festival. In his late 60's he found the West Bengal Parascychological Society and his dear friend Mr. Satyajit Ray became a life member and founded the grounds for his debut films and also the story Sonar Kella ( One of Feluda's adventures) from this society. Bimal's debut film was also Sonar Kella. Very few people can forget his sharp on-screen presence in movies like Sonar Kella, Jana Aranya, Joy Baba Felunath, Hirak Rajar Deshe, Gare Baire, and Mrinal Sen's Kharij. He was never a professional actor but always knew what a role demanded.